Which type of herbicide works quickly by killing plant tissue it touches?

Contact herbicides are designed to kill plant tissues that they directly touch. When applied, these herbicides penetrate the outer layers of the plant and disrupt the cellular functions in that specific area. This means that the effectiveness of contact herbicides is immediate, as they can swiftly cause visible damage to the plants.

Unlike translocated herbicides, which are absorbed by the plant and moved through its system to affect tissues away from the site of application, contact herbicides act solely on the parts of the plant they come in direct contact with. This makes them particularly useful for targeting unwanted vegetation in non-crop areas, such as along pathways or in driveways, where you may need fast action to eliminate invasive or non-desirable plants.

Selective herbicides, while effective for targeting specific types of plants, do not operate in the same immediate fashion across all tissues. They are formulated to kill certain plants without harming others and typically take longer to show results, as they may work through growth regulation processes. Similarly, systemic herbicides are absorbed and transported throughout the plant, making them effective for comprehensive control, but their action takes longer to manifest as well since they work via plant metabolism and growth functions.